News Blog

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today that West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitoes collected from Wilmington, Massachusetts on August 7, 2018 in the Suncrest Avenue wetland area of Wilmington.

WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state, and are found in urban as well as more rural areas. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection.

The Wilmington Board of Health would like to remind residents that by taking a few, common-sense precautions, people can help to protect themselves and their loved ones:

Using insect repellents

Wearing long-sleeved clothing

Scheduling outdoor activities to avoid the hours around dawn and dusk

Repairing damaged window screens

Removing standing water from the areas around your home

Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control conducts routing spraying in the evening if the weather is above 50 degrees, weather permitting, with additional spraying to be done on Thursday evening August 16, 2018, hopefully, weather permitting.

Information about WNV and reports of current and historical WNV virus activity in Massachusetts can be found on the MDPH website at www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito https://www.mosquitoresults.com or you can call the Board of Health at 978-658-4298, or boh@wilmingtonma.gov

There will be two projects scheduled later this week which will affect those traveling in Wilmington:

1. Road Paving

The Wilmington DPW will be grinding and resurfacing the following roads beginning on Wednesday July 11, 2018 at 7am:

Shawsheen Ave – Aldrich Rd To Foot Bridge (Old Shawsheen Ave)

Carter Lane – Shawsheen Ave To 23 Carter Lane

Sherburn Place – Shawsheen Ave To End

This date may be postponed due to inclement weather or scheduling delays with the Town’s roadway contractor. During operations, partial lane closures and full road closures are anticipated. Local residents will have access to their properties, although there may be short delays.

2. Salem Street Road Closure

Due to a project in Tewksbury, Salem Street will be closed at the Wilmington/Tewksbury line on July 11, 12, & 13. The closure is scheduled to be between 9am-3pm each day. No traffic will be allowed through the road closure. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.

TEWKSBURY — Tewksbury Police Chief Timothy B. Sheehan and Wilmington Police Chief Michael Begonis would like to invite the public to a fundraising event for Cops for Kids With Cancer next month.

WHEN: Sunday, June 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE: Wamesit Lanes, 434 Main St., Tewksbury

WHAT: All communities are welcome to join the Tewksbury and Wilmington Police Departments for a family-friendly event next month to raise money for Cops for Kids With Cancer. Over the past eight years, there have been six families in Tewksbury and nearly as many in Wilmington who have received one of Cops for Kids With Cancer’s generous $5,000 donations. Both departments want to continue to support additional awards across the Commonwealth. This is truly a family event and all participants are encouraged to bring their families. There will be lots of free things for kids of all ages to do. All past recipients of the $5,000 Cops for Kids With Cancer awards and their families are also invited to come and enjoy the event.

During the event, there will be a bowling competition and a cornhole competition. Businesses, residents, law enforcement, firefighters and EMS providers are encouraged to put together a team and join in some friendly competition for a good cause.

Five-person bowling teams can register by sending in the Bowling Team Registration Form or online at https://wamesitlanes.com/event/cops-for-kids-with-cancer. The time slots available to bowl are at 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. at the cost of $500 per team. Lane sponsorships are available for an additional $500 and include your name and/or logo on the television screens above your lane.

Two-person cornhole teams can register by sending in the Cornhole Team Registration Form or online at https://wamesitlanes.com/event/cops-for-kids-with-cancer. Time slots available for cornhole are 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the cost of $40 per team. There will be trophies for the winning teams and bragging rights until the following year’s event.

The arcade at Wamesit Lanes will also be open for free for participants with plenty of games and complementary food. Additionally, attendees can enjoy Touch-a-Truck with police and fire vehicles, K-9 units, SWAT, horses, motorcycles and more. There will be a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction, and a “Closest to the Pin” and “Longest Drive” golf competitions. This event is open to the public and all proceeds will go directly to Cops for Kids With Cancer.

We recognize this event cannot be a success without all your help and we appreciate anything anyone can do to help. Anyone with questions, individuals who would like to volunteer, or those who cannot make it to the event but wish to contribute a donation or a silent auction item, can contact Wamesit Lanes at info@wamesitlanes.com. The event flyer is also attached.

Chief Michael Begonis is pleased to announce the promotion of Brian Hermann to the position of Sergeant. Sergeant Hermann joined the Wilmington Police Department in 2003. During his tenure as a Wilmington Police Officer he served not only as a Patrol Officer, but spent several years as the Wilmington High School Resource Officer and as a Traffic Officer. Prior to becoming a full time police officer, Sgt. Hermann spent three years as a Wilmington Public Safety Dispatcher.

Chief Begonis stated in an announcement to Department personnel, “I am confident that Sergeant Hermann will fulfill his new role with the utmost professionalism and detail to duty while espousing the Department’s core values of commitment, compassion, and respect.”

All of the members of the Wilmington Police Department congratulate Sgt. Hermann on his promotion and wish him well in his new role.

At 9:56 this morning, Wilmington Public Safety Dispatch received a 911 call from a man who’s wife was in active labor and was about to give birth. He had pulled over on the side of I-93 at exit 39. Dispatcher Jill Regan provided instructions for the father as the baby was being born. As units were responding, Dispatcher Regan initially radioed that the baby’s head was showing. By the time Officer Matt Stavro arrived on scene, less than two minutes later, the baby had been fully delivered inside the vehicle. Officer Stavro provided first aid care for mother and baby until Wilmington Fire Department EMT’s and Action Ambulance paramedics arrived on scene. Mother and baby were transported to Winchester Hospital.

Beginning on May 4, the Wilmington Police Department will have extra patrols on the road targeting vehicle occupants not wearing their seatbelts. The Department is joining the Massachusetts State Police and municipal police departments across the Commonwealth in the annual “Click It Or Ticket” campaign. This initiative is funded by a federal highway safety grant, through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division (EOPSS).

According to statistics from Executive Office of Public Safety, Massachusetts has one of the lowest seatbelt usage rates in the nation. Since being implemented, “Click It Or Ticket” initiatives have helped increase seat belt usage in Massachusetts from 51% in 2002 to 78% in 2016. We still have a long way to go though as the national usage rate average is 90%.

The Wilmington Police Department wants to remind everyone that Massachusetts law requires all occupants to be properly restrained by safety belts when riding in a private passenger motor vehicle. So please, when you get in your car, buckle up. You could be saving your own life!